Why Planning a Mexican Party is A Great Choice of Themes

There are many different theme parties to choose from. You have your off the wall Halloween based themes like Jason's Manor and the Adam's Family, to your more typical pool party theme. Of all the theme parties there may only be one champion and in my book it is the Mexican fiesta.

Planning a Mexican party is much like planning any party. It all starts with creating a checklist. This you will use to make sure all your party goods are checked off the list. Write everything down. I mean everything. This includes, all the way down to the purchase of napkins and how much it costs. The reason for this is to keep yourself budget conscious and have an accurate table of all your party items. The last thing any host wants to do during their party is to have to tell their guests that they will have to run to the store real quick to pick up this and that. The checklist is the party planner's tool for eliminating any such hassle.

The Mexican party is a great choice of theme. There is always much dancing to be had and everyone singing along to the music, when on many occasions they have no idea what it is they are singing. The Spanish language is a beautifully sounding dialect especially when put into song. So expect dancing, and even more so, encourage it. This will bring out the laughter, create memories and possibly even develop lasting relationships. There is something to be said about parties with dancing. It is like a party at a new and intense level of celebration. So it is important to make some room for your guests to dance. Turn the music up loud and let it slowly take over the room. If no one decides to dance, be the first, you certainly won't be the last.

Besides the song and dance, the food and drink and the traditional Mexican dress there is plenty of other reasons to want to have a Mexican fiesta. Think of how your house would look with all the colors of Mexico hanging off your walls, curtains and draped on your tables. There is many different things you could add. If you wanted you could take up an interest in different types of cactuses and maybe red hot chili peppers. Or maybe even a few hanging piñatas that the kids would love to bash into tiny little bits to get at all that wonderful candy. You could easily turn your house into a Mexican fantasy world and do it relatively cheap. Even your menu could be done on the relative cheap side, and done quite well.

Think about planning a Mexican party not only for yourself, but for all your friends and family as well. They will love it. The history of America speaks for us all, even those just below the border. Our southern cousins certainly know how to party. The word fiesta is familiar and for good reason. It means day of rest, but somehow for many it really means time to party. For anyone who has never been to Mexico and doesn't know it's history Cinco De Mayo is a very popular holiday. It marks the day when Mexican forces overran the French on May 5, 1862. It is much like the Fourth of July. They both represent days to celebrate life, freedom and happiness.

A Mexican theme party is also a great way to showcase your hosting skills. There is much that goes into creating a successful party and this will be no different. The only thing different about your last party and this one is everyone will be dancing and singing. Is that reason enough to begin planning a Mexican party. I think so!

Luau Party Planning-Fun Times Hawaiian Style

A Hawaiian luau is an excellent idea for a party. This is the type of party that will be remembered by all who attend for a very long time to come. It is more than just your basic outdoor feast. It is a fun time filled with unusual entertainment, music, food, beverages, decorations and dress. It is a great way to share the tropical island paradise with your friends and family without having to spend a fortune in bringing them there. If you are interested in bringing the Hawaiian islands home I will give you some insight on how to make this possible.

Aloha! Play another song on the ukulele will you? If you have ever been to Hawaii or at least familiar with some of the traditions then you will have heard of the ukulele. This is one of the most popular and traditional instruments on the island. The name ukulele translates as jumping flea. Over one hundred years ago Portuguese sailors introduced the instrument to the native Hawaiians and soon after the ukulele became known as an Hawaiian instrument. Some other popular instruments you will hear being played on the islands are the slack key guitar and the steel guitar. The slack key guitar was first made popular by Elvis Presley in his Blue Hawaii album. These instruments are the sound of Hawaii and you should definitely add them to your luau party planning checklist. A band would be ideal, but expensive, so if your budget is tight go to your local music shop and pick out a variety of Hawaiian tunes.

Although the music for your luau party planning would not be the first item on your party to-do list, it is still a critical item that must be checked off if you are truly interested in delighting your guests with the look and feel of the tropics. The music helps create the atmosphere and this is crucial to your success.

If you are fortunate enough to have a large backyard, then your location for the party is a snap. If you are not so lucky then you will either want to have your party at a friend or relatives house. Luau parties are best if there is ample outdoor space. They are normally large parties, but you could certainly get away with a smaller venue if your guest list is under 25. Along with your music selections, the decorations will help pull everything together. Whether large or small, if the atmosphere is set properly your luau should be a grand affair.

The reason most luau parties are outdoors is because of the menu and the entertainment. Often times people love to have a pig roast when opting for this type of party. To go with it they may have a band or a DJ, and play many outdoor games. The menu would also include a variety of tropical fruits and beverages. Some popular games to include in your luau party planning might be crab football and body art. Crab football is much like soccer and would require a large area to play in. If you don't have the yard space then body art would be a fun choice for the kids. You can create prizes for the best work.

Some other things to consider purchasing for your luau are; tiki torches, tropical flower arrangements, candles, rum and mix, luau themed invitations, a limbo pole (for your hula dancer), grass skirts and leis (flowered necklace). By using a combination of the things listed above you will have the means to have a great Hawaiian party. All you must do now is create a workable plan to put everything in order to ensure your parties success.

Theme Party Planning Will Suck Your Creative Energies Unless You Apply These Methods

Scheming and dreaming will get you nowhere quick unless you actually have an idea as to what type of party you plan on having. The holidays are around the corner and Halloween may still only be weeks away. Regardless of the date on the calendar, theme party planning can be especially difficult, especially if the theme you selected is not going to work. There are many different types of theme parties, ranging from; a casino theme, a masquerade party, pool, Hollywood, Arabian nights theme party, BBQ, and a plethora of Halloween sets. The main reason for theme party planning failure is a lack of devotion by the host and the unwillingness of the guests to participate.

Within this article are ways you can employ the willingness of your invites. It starts by creating a theme that would draw popular approval. Find out what your friends and family would enjoy. By getting their opinion beforehand you will have a good idea as to whether or not your party will work. This is a reasonable approach if you plan on having an off the wall theme. You don't want to send out a few dozen invites and find out the hard way that none of your guests are interested in dressing up in flamboyant costumes for your masquerade party. This type of theme party desperately needs cooperating guests, so ask beforehand before creating such an elaborate affair. There are many other themes that require dressing up in certain ways, so by delivering the proper approach to your theme party planning you can actually predict the number of accepted invites by the responses of those you asked.

Once you have chosen the theme, begin your planning like you would for any other party. The best way to do this is by creating a checklist. Keep track of everything you need, purchased and have on hand for the party. By having a detailed list the chances of you forgetting something important and having to run out on the day of the party greatly diminish.

With the checklist ready to go, start putting together your list of invites. If you've decided on an elaborate scheme, try to get other people involved in the planning. This draws more interest. The more people you get involved the better chance of success. You will have extra help with the food and the decorations, plus you will save time and money.

Of course you should already have the venue picked out amongst other things, but they are common issues when addressing the planning of any party. Do your due diligence before setting up a rare theme for your party and everything should work out well. Theme parties can be a great time if you have the cooperation and the willingness to see it through.

The biggest mistake people make is they allow themselves to be sucked into an impossible dream for their theme. If you do you can expect to have to work longer and harder, spend more money, and have fewer guests arrive at your doorstep the night of the party. Don't allow this to happen to you, ask beforehand and see your party explode with laughter and good times.

Don't Mess Up the Surprise Party by Denying the Proper Planning

There are many types of parties, but none of them have the magic of a surprise party. If you want to give someone something to remember for a long time to come a surprise party will definitely suffice. People give surprise parties for a variety of reasons. Some popular reasons for giving a surprise party are; birthdays, graduations, someone close to you received a pay raise at work, or they were finally given that big promotion, or an anniversary or possibly a new job. Whatever the reason surprise parties provide great memories and gives the guest of honor tremendous feelings of warmth and appreciation.

The best and most proven way to begin your preparations for the party is by creating a checklist. A checklist is your guide and you will be using it throughout the planning. Everything must be cataloged in order to prevent any mishaps. This includes; budget considerations, venue, guest list (along with addresses and phone numbers), decorations and cost, food and cost, beverages and cost, the date of the party and anything else related to the planning. By having things written down you are able to keep track of all the items you need or purchased, and everything related to your guest list is much easier to manage.

The second step in your surprise party planning would be different from your average party planning ritual. This is when you would begin devising your plan. The plan is all about creating a workable surprise for the guest of honor. Depending on the person's habits this can either be very easy or very difficult to arrange. Some serious thinking should go into making this achievable. Come up with a list of places where the guest of honor frequents and write them all down. If the surprise party is going to be at your home and he/she lives with you, plan accordingly. Keep all of your party preparations out of sight and if possible at a friend or relatives house. The party plan must be kept realistic and most likely will involve the help of others. A good way to find out if your surprise will work is to ask for an opinion. Have a few different ideas prepared and once you have your plan intact you can move forward with your surprise party preparations.

If for some reason you were unable to create a workable surprise, try using the decoy rouse. By having a decoy to lure your guest of honor either away from the parties whereabouts or to it, you will have someone controlling his/her every move, making the surprise easier to pull off. It is easier because you will know there where they are at least an hour before the party begins, which is an all important factor in achieving success.

Now that you have your surprise planned and ready it is time to put your efforts into the actual surprise party planning. There is still much to be done, so get out your pen and paper (i.e. checklist) and get to work. Start by coming up with your budget and go from there. You're planning a great party here, so maintain your composure and get it right.

Cocktail Party Planning-The Drinks are on the House

The last guest has finally arrived and with little time to spare. Break Neck Joe is telling another one of his gut wrenching jokes and has the guests in stitches. The laughter can easily be heard from the apartment next store. The big boss rushes quickly to grab a cocktail and joins the cackling crowd. The host smiles, sets down his drink and walks casually into the kitchen. The cocktail party has gone far better than he could have hoped. The drinks have been flowing without end and the appetizer dish has been a major success. The guests have all been having a terrific time and there have been no arguments. Once the kitchen door quietly shuts, the host opens his mouth and thanks his lucky stars. He knows without the proper cocktail party planning his goal of entertaining his boss and co-workers would have ultimately ended in failure. The desired raise would have been nothing more than a wishful dream. Now his boss remembers his name without stuttering and his co-workers will be raving over this cocktail party for weeks. With a moment to reflect, he closes his eyes and remembers the plan.

It began simply enough. It all started with an idea for a party. The dreaming soon took over. He dreamt himself surrounded by hordes of beautiful women in poorly lit rooms with barely enough elbow space to lift his drink to his mouth. It was absolute paradise. They all laughed at his jokes and showered kisses on him for no reason. Then of course he awoke to the unkind realization that his dreaming wasn't helping him solve the problem of trying to determine how to properly conduct the actual cocktail party planning. It was then he decided to take action. He searched online and this is what he discovered.

Cocktail party planning has many of the key ingredients as does other parties. It is a social gathering where drinks, food and conversation can be found. The difference is at cocktail parties a great variety of drinks are to be served.

The best way to begin with your cocktail party planning is by creating a checklist. This will be used to list everyone you invite, everything you need, purchase and budget constraints. By creating a checklist you will be taking the first major step in having a successful party.

Once you have your checklist laid out in front of you begin jotting down the people you intend on inviting. At cocktail parties it is always a good idea (if possible) to limit the amount of people by choosing those whom you know to get along. At large parties it is much easier for people to get lost in the crowd whereas at smaller functions, i.e. cocktail parties, those same individuals might find themselves in an unpleasant conversation, causing argument. Of course this can happen at any party, but the last thing you want for your party is for an argument to ruin its winning atmosphere. Choose your guest list wisely.

Do you have any bar tendering skills? This is an important question to ask yourself if you are going to be hosting a cocktail party. If so, you may still want to opt out of the job, and why not, there are other important things you must do as host, but at cocktail parties this is its reason for being. Drinks are to be served and if you aren't going to be doing it who will? You can always hire a bartender for the evening or have a friend over who enjoys a few good laughs while pouring drinks. If you have a large house it would be a good idea to hire out, but if you have a small house or apartment then you should seriously consider mixing the cocktails yourself. With limited space people are more inclined to remain within a few strides of the bar, thus making the bartender the center of attention. As host this will give you more control over the conversation and would bolster your status amongst your guests.

A few more things you must do is consider your menu, prep and clean the party rooms, take care when decorating and do all of this before the day or night of the party. The main thing is your guest list and the bar tendering. Everything else should be handled accordingly and be part of your checklist. If all is done well, and the music is just right then maybe someone at your party will take up the role of Break Neck Joe and have the place in stitches.

Food Party Planning-A Pleasurable Tasting Experience

Looking back centuries ago, the hostess with the mostess always had the greatest parties. The reason for this is because there was always dishes of extravagant food available at their parties. They planned their parties with the intention of keeping their guests happy and the one way to ensure everyone remains happy at your party is to do as they did, and serve great food.

The proper way to go about your food party planning is to make your menu plans in advance. The best way to begin is to create a food party checklist. By doing this you will have an easy way to track all of your food items. Whether it be the items you need to shop for or the things you may already have in your refrigerator. Regardless of where they may be located, write everything down, including the cost. The cost issue is an important aspect of any checklist. By keeping track you will have a useful tool in maintaining your budget.

The budget in your food party planning must be kept up to date. There are other things you will need to purchase besides food to make the party right. A few of the items are, decorations (i.e. flowers, etc.), beverages, venue choice (whether it's cleaning material for home or a banquet hall or some other outside choice), and possibly entertainment.

The size of the guest list also plays a large role in your food party planning. If you are only serving a small group the quality of the food may or may not improve depending on the size of your budget. What this means is you may be able to serve expensive food for only a few people, but the larger group will have to be served something less. Just because your budget won't allow for extravagant dishes for a large group doesn't mean you can't serve something delicious. There are plenty of great food dishes that can be prepared cheaply.

These are just a few of the things to consider when planning your food party. There are other important things to plan for when trying to create a successful party and by reading what follows you will get an idea as to what they entail.

When planning your menu be sure to inquire about the dietary needs of your guests. By doing this you will avoid any embarrassing mishaps. An example is serving steak to a vegetarian. Of course you wouldn't want this to happen. So be sure to inquire. You don't want to spend hours preparing your famous pork dish only to find out two of your guests are Muslim. Be smart and ask the invited guests what their preferences are.

Always try and prepare as much food before the party as possible. You don't want to spend any more time than you have to in the kitchen. By getting things done a day or two in advance you will have more time to spend with your guests. The best parties are the ones where the host/hostess is a lively entertainer. By trying your best in this arena you will have an edge in keeping your guests happy no matter what you serve.

Wedding Party Planning-Choosing the Big Day

Love is in the air and it seems to light up every room within the house. The engagement is moving forward and for good reason. The loving pair are obviously a match made in heaven and the time has come to set a date. After scouring the calendar for a day fitting their love and still without an agreement the pair shouldn't despair because there are ways of making the choice easier. All you must do is sit down, take a deep breath and read the facts about wedding party planning and you will discover to your amazement that choosing a date for your wedding isn't really that difficult after all.

Don't prolong your engagement because of not being able to make a date. It all comes down to your love. The wedding is an important symbol of your love and it will be the ultimate crowning achievement. There are many aspects in wedding party planning and planning a wedding in general. To make the jump into this realm of wedding planning the couple must choose. Does your love need a special date on the calendar to signify the love you must feel for each other or is it an excuse? This is an important question that must be asked before continuing.

Is this person the one you wish to share the rest of your life with? If so, why the continual indecision? Does the day really matter? Do you want sunshine, rain or snow? Does it really matter? Should it? The pair of you will love each other no matter the circumstances and the weather should not play a role. So forget about the calendar for a moment and consider this. Do you really want to get married, and if so how much time do you need to prepare for the special day? Do you plan on a big wedding or small? Would you prefer to have it outdoors or inside a church or another special place? If you would prefer an outdoor wedding, plan on late spring or summer. If indoors it really shouldn't matter.

The main reason you decided to get engaged in the first place was because you love each other. The only days on the calendar that should be avoided are holidays and birthdays, everything else is fair game. The wedding bells are ringing, why deny it.

Now that you have the reasoning for not prolonging the engagement it is time to really think about choosing the day. There is no reason not to. There is plenty of love and sexual stirrings in the air to take the final step in your relationship. So why not choose. You know the weather can't be controlled and if it rains, so be it, you will have a tarp to keep you dry. This is the time to sit down with your significant other and tell them you really want to get married and that the date isn't the important thing, but your love for each other.

Once the big day has been decided you can finally begin the all important wedding party planning. This can get hectic, but don't despair it'll all be worth it once you're married. There is plenty of information available online, and you will have a lot less trouble finding it then you did in choosing the big day.

Planning a Graduation Party-Your Child Deserves Something Great

Planning a graduation party might sound like a lot of fun, but in truth it can be a trying experience. In order to keep this from happening there are a few things you should know. Indeed, party planning is not an art or a scientific equation. However, it can be difficult to produce a great party if everything is not done correctly and this is one party that all those proverbial mistakes should be left at the door. Your child is graduating and deserves the best that you can afford to give them. Now how do you get it done without pulling your hair out? Well keep reading.

An excellent rule of thumb is to confide in your graduate. Tell them you are planning a party and would like to know what they might like to do. Try and get a few ideas out of them, then pick one and roll with it. This way the party can still have a touch of surprise.

There is also the issue of the guest list. Besides family, you will definitely want to invite some friends of the grad. While confiding in your child, make sure you get the names and numbers of those he/she would like to have over. Don't think you can do it all on your own. You will definitely miss someone, and you don't want to do that. This is their party, not yours, so try your best to accommodate your grad. By going the extra mile on everything you do, you will be conveying your love to what could be the most important person in your life.

If the requested party is going to be impossible to afford, you might want to ask a few of his friends parents what they had planned for their child. By doing this you could join forces and pool your money. Do you see the benefit in this? Instead of only having 500 for the party, you could now have 2000. Of course, the number of people would be much larger and the food consumption enormous, but the major benefit would be the money left over for entertainment. Now instead of only backyard volleyball, you could certainly find a local band to rock the neighborhood for a few hours. There are plenty of things you could decide upon to make use of any extra funds. You could easily create a dream bash for your child. If this isn't what you had in mind there are plenty of other avenues to scour.
If your child has a favorite restaurant, you could always take him/her there for an intimate dinner between relatives. This is always a great way to bond with your child and show how much you appreciate all the hard work that went into their accomplishment.

So in order to make this a party they will truly enjoy, find out what he/she might like, invite their friends, and go the extra mile. This is their party and you want them to have a great time. After all, they deserve whatever it is you can afford to give them. They graduated and they did it not only for them, but they did it because of you. Congratulations on a job well done.

The Best Man's job of Bachelor Party Planning

It's no secret as to who must make the preparations for the bachelor on his big night. The best man wants to create that one of a kind evening that shall never be forgotten, but it's not as easy as one would think. There is more to it than just picking up the guys and heading over to the local strip bar. This can be done on any night of the week and maybe it has been done a few times already. If this is going to be a grand send-off why do the same old things. Bachelor party planning can be made easy if you have the right mind set and the right tools to make it happen.

First the tools the best man needs in order to make the bachelor party a success. The tools needed won't be found in a toolbox. These are mostly hypothetical tools and can be found quite easily. The best place to find the number one tool to keep everyone close to both the bride and groom happy is with the bride. She will certainly have in her possession the guest list to the wedding. Within this list, should be the phone numbers to all who should be invited to the bachelor's big night. The best man might want to inquire with the bride-to-be who in her family might like to attend. By doing this will keep everyone on her side of the family happy and could possibly prevent any mishaps by the groom. It could also get him in trouble, depending on the type of person he is, so when making the choice to invite any of the bride's family the best man may want to inquire with the groom once the choices have been made. After all this is his big night and he may not agree with all his lovely ladies choices.

Another tool the best man is definitely going to need is a wallet. The wallet should be fat and with plenty of green inside. If this isn't the case, there are ways of getting the green needed besides using brute force. The best man should now have in his possession a list with a lot of names on it. They all want the same thing as he does and that is to provide a great time for the bachelor at the party. For this reason the best man should have no problem acquiring the funds needed to provide for such a bash. All he must do is tell them what he has planned and ask if they would like to contribute. The money shouldn't be a problem.

The other equation in proper bachelor party planning is the mindset. The best man must have this throughout every stage of planning, from dealing with the bride-to-be, to getting the guest list squared away, to making the plans for the party and at the party itself. All this means is the best man must remain focused on the main objective and that is keeping both the bride and groom happy. By doing this he will certainly live up to his job of best man, no matter what he has in store for the bachelor on the big night.

There are many things to do at bachelor parties besides hiring a stripper or running off to the nearest strip club. The best man should know what the groom likes and dislikes. Make it great, and have fun. This could be the last time for such an occasion, so do your best to make it sensational.

Dinner Party Planning-Dinner is Now Served

Your table for 10 is ready now Madam. Please follow me. Surely that sounds familiar? What about the seating for 10? This may not, but what you are planning may need to accommodate such a number. Dinner parties are normally smaller parties and easier to prepare for than most. This is not to say you can just go ahead and wing it. This would not be an ideal way to plan any party, even if it is of the smaller variety. To ensure your parties success follow the simple advice outlined below.

A great way to get started with your dinner party planning is to plan ahead. It makes little difference if you are planning for a party of four or a group of ten. Staying ahead will ensure you have everything in order for the night or day of the party. Consider your guest list early. Who are you going to invite and what are their eating habits? This should be a question you ask yourself. Do not be afraid to inquire because by asking ahead you will be eliminating any mistakes. A common mistake at dinner parties is when the host forgets to ask beforehand and ends up finding out the hard way that so and so is a vegetarian and so and so is allergic to seafood. Don't make this mistake. Plan ahead, ask beforehand and eliminate a potentially embarrassing situation.

With your guest lists needs in mind, you can go ahead and plan your menu. This is the second most important aspect of your party. Why second do you ask? Well during your guest list planning did you make the proper invites? Will everyone get along? If not, reconsider the list. You don't want an argument ruining your dinner party. With your revised guest list, make preparations for the menu. Do you know what you will be serving or are you still undecided? If undecided write out a list of different things you might like to prepare and ponder over them. What would fit the mood you are trying to convey? Is this a business or a family function? Are your guests younger or older? Do they prefer wine, cocktails or beer? These are all questions you can ask yourself. If you can think of more, do so, then make a decision in a day or so.

If you would rather buy out for a deluxe gourmet meal, your guests certainly wouldn't complain. There is also no rule against ordering take out if your guests love Chinese, Indian, Japanese or some other famous take-out. However, pizza might be over doing it.

Creating your meal should be done in advance, if possible. The reason for this is you want to have plenty of time to attend to your guests once they arrive. You don't want to be running in and out of the kitchen an hour after the last person made their way through your front door. Of course, the main dish would probably require your attention, the other aspects of your meal should be in a state of readiness. This means they should be ready to go at a moment's notice. The appetizers, the dessert and anything else you can prepare for in advance you should definitely have sitting in the refrigerator waiting their turn. This is good practice, by abiding by it, you will have more time for your guests. In turn, you will be fulfilling the number one rule of dinner parties and that is a good host makes for a great party. Enjoy your meal.

Holiday Party Planning-Create a Joyful Holiday Experience

The holidays are a time for fun, family and friends. Every holiday has its own party experience. Whether it's Christmas gift-giving, Fourth of July BBQ's or Thanksgiving turkey, you can probably expect what the party nearest you has to offer. However, if you don't want your party to be predictable then read on because there are ways to put a spin on your holiday party planning that your guests will never forget.

The basics still need to be covered. You should approach your holiday party planning as you would any party. The best way to do this is by creating a checklist. A checklist will prevent the mishaps which create chaos for the host before and after a party begins. List everything you need, purchased, the guest list (names, phone numbers, and addresses), budget, venue, menu items, decorations and anything else you feel is relevant to your party. With a checklist in hand, crank up your imagination for the twists you intend to create that will make your holiday party stand out from the crowd.

The main thing to keep in mind when deviating from the norm is to create something that will be accepted and appreciated. You don't want to have a Thanksgiving dinner and serve steak and potatoes and have it resented by everyone. When adding a twist keep it simple, yet different enough to be memorable.

A good way to keep things simple are to make a change in the color scheme. You can do this by having all your decorations devoted to a certain color or colors. The decorations are not the only thing you can change. You can also have your glassware, dishes, cakes, cupcakes and other finger foods delightfully arranged with frosting from the favored color choice.

Another way to change the way a party is to be remembered is by changing the menu. This can be done smoothly at Thanksgiving if the guests are notified beforehand. There is no rule against making a change to the menu by adding your best recipe, but it is best to make it known. Otherwise, your twist could backfire and the lasting memories you want to create could turn ugly. A good holiday to add something new to the menu is the Fourth of July. Instead of going with hot dogs and hamburgers have a seafood boil. The one thing to keep in mind when having seafood as the main dish is there is always someone amongst your guests who is either allergic or just plain hates the taste. With this in mind, always have the basics on hand, just in case.

The holidays can be a stressful time for the person who has taken on the responsibility of being host. It can be even more stressful if you've decided to make a change from the norm. To keep the stress contained be open about what you are planning. Simple changes can be adding games to the event or having everyone wear specific colored clothing. There are many things you can do to add a twist to the holidays, you just have to use your imagination. While being creative, be thoughtful to your families feelings, you want them to have a great time and have something different to talk about from last year's party, not anything negative.

Above all, you must always be a fun host. Surely you can create lasting memories by doing something different. This is your party. To stand out from the crowd and make this year's holiday party extra special, you must have fun doing it. Your guests will surely notice and appreciate all the added trouble you went through, even if it took you only a few extra minutes.

Have a great holiday.

Party Planning Checklist-A Party Planner's Bible

You're about to start planning a party, but don't know where to start. You run to the grocery store, looking at this and that, deciding on a few things you may need, knowing the whole time you've forgotten something. Now it's time to head over to the local department store for some decorations. You follow the same unguided principles you went through at the grocery store. Then once again you missed a few things at the liquor store. You've also forgotten to send invitations to so and so and a few others and the party is only a few days away. Suddenly you find yourself scrambling back to all the same stores trying to find the items you missed the first time around. Then out of nowhere the night of the party arrives and you realize you don't have enough food for all the invited guests. Then the worst possible thing happens, you hear a knock at the front door. It's as if a new and frightening nightmare has blossomed out of thin air. You feel the shakes coming on and your stress level is reaching new and incredible heights. I could go even further, but I think you get the idea. If only you had begun your planning by keeping track of all that you need, every purchased item and menu dishes prepared. If only you had made a party planning checklist none of the awful party mistakes listed above would have happened. Now that I've gotten the point across about how important a checklist is I will now inform you about what it needs in order to make it work.

A party planning checklist should consist of the type of party you plan on having, it's budget, the guest list, venue, decorations, food and beverages and the time and date of your party. Start by writing yourself a header. Something like, 'Luau party planning checklist', will do just nicely. The reason it's a good idea to create a headline is it will make it more difficult to deviate from your parties theme if you keep reading it over and over.

The next aspect of your checklist should definitely be your budget. Creating a budget and keeping track of all your spending is very important. Your budget will be the key reason for many of your up and coming party decisions. The checklist is a way of keeping everything in order so you don't overspend in one area and leave another area short.

The item listed after the budget on the party planning checklist is usually your venue choice. If you are planning to have the party away from home the venue choice will cost money and will come out of your budget and a time will have to be arranged for decorations and so forth. If your party is going to be at home, and you have to hire a professional to come and clean some unwanted stains out of your rug the parties budget will be affected, making it an important listing in your checklist. Of course, if your home needs nothing besides some freshening up you may leave it off your list for now.

The checklist is about to be hammered with information and the reason for this is you're about to create your guest list. Here you should write out the invitees names, phone numbers and addresses. You will be needing this information for the invitations and it makes it much easier than trying to look through your address book and try and remember who was invited, what their numbers are and where they live.

The menu should be added once you have completed the above. Now you will have a clear idea as to what you need and how much. List the items you need, then check them off the list once purchased, while also keeping track of prices. The same goes for decorations.

The information listed above should help prevent problems created by trying to 'wing it'. If not, there is plenty of available information out there, you just have to know where to look.
Good luck on your up and coming party and have a great time.

Party Planning Information-The Party Starts Here

The days of your youth are at an end. Back then party planning was so simple anyone could do it. Unfortunately things must change. You've grown up and things no longer come as easy. Actual planning must be strategized in order for your party to produce a success. The best way to insure a great party today is by examining the possibilities. The party planning information you will discover here takes you bounding through time to the here and now, gleefully leaving your childhood behind, into a world of alcohol, great food and variations of intense partying that'll fit any mood or personality.

This strategy of party planning is for those looking to create a more formal affair. If you want to revert back to your youth, you can certainly make some phone calls and tell your friends to bring the beer and the chips because the party is at your place tonight. Otherwise, read on, because the party planning information you are looking for starts now.

There are 6 basic steps in planning that you must consider.

The 6 basic stages of preparation are:

1) Checklist: The creation of a checklist is a vitally important tip for anyone who plans on having a party. It is imperative to keep track of all your party preparations. In order to eliminate the inevitable stress, create a checklist then use it.

2) Deciding on the type of party: For most people the idea for a party developed long before the date for the event was scheduled. This is true in most cases but not all. There are many different types of parties, including: theme, luau, surprise, baby shower, wedding, bachelor, surprise, etc. If you've decided to have a party, but don't know what type now is the time to make a choice. Once you've came to a decision write the name down on a piece of paper and entitle it your checklist.

3) The Budget is a major step: This is the step that has a direct impact on most of your coming decisions. Your budget size decides the size of your party, where it will be held, what type of food and beverages you will serve and whether or not you will be adding decorations.

4) The Venue is next: Where you want to have your party should be next in your party planning. This decision is not always an easy one. If you have a large guest list and the accommodations will in no way be adequate, renting a space may be your only choice. However, if your budget is limited, don't be shy in asking for help from relatives and friends. Remember this is a party you are having and your guests will more than likely be willing to help.

5) The Guest list should now be formulated: Now that the other big decisions have been covered you can begin the actual guest list. You should now know whether or not your party will be big or small, at home or abroad. With this information in hand, the who and the how many on your guest list should be jotted down on your checklist. The invitations should now be sent. The partying is soon to begin and the excitement should be building.

6) The Food and Beverage Menu: With all the other planning accomplished the menu should now be sorted. Take great care in your food planning. This is an area where people tend to make mistakes and find themselves either running short or running out at the last minute to grab something they've forgotten. Don't let this happen to you. Plan accordingly.

Those are the basic steps in party planning. With the information listed here you will be well on your way to having a party that will far surpass the days when making a phone call was all you needed to do.

Luau Party Planning-Bring the Tropical Islands Home

Luau party planning is an excellent idea to move forward with. If you love the idea of flowers, bright colors, Hawaiian music, grass skirts, tiki torches and luau or hula dancers you are in for the time of your life. It's the ultimate tropical illusion set perfectly in your home or yard and would make you the hit of the neighborhood. So go ahead and take your planning to the next stage because this article is dedicated solely on how to make your tropical island dreams a reality.

Party planning is best if taken one step at a time and luau party planning is no different. Your first step should be in creating a checklist to keep track of all the key factors, including: budget, venue, guest list, food and decorations. Once you have created your checklist, you must decide on a budget that is workable. You can keep the price tag relatively cheap, if kept at home and your guest list is under 25. If you plan on having a large party you might want to consider defraying some of the cost by asking some of your guests to bring some of the party items, i.e. food and drink.

A luau calls for a creative invitation. You may want to think about having them professionally made, giving you the choice between some already prepared invites. Or if you had something special in mind, have them created per your imagination. You could also go online and have them sent out via e-mail. There are some great services that provide excellent choices for any type of party. If you decide to craft them yourself go with bright colors and maybe a picture of a hula dancer. Try and create the right mood. This will certainly catch the interest of those you are trying to invite.

Once you have the invitations sent out and the parties venue picked out, start choosing your decorations. You are going to want to have the right ambience set for the party. In order to create that festive atmosphere and Hawaiian feel use a lot of candles, balloons, and tropical adornments. Hawaiian music is an awesome mood setter too.

When choosing your food, go with the tropical variety. Some choices to consider are; pineapples, mango, coconuts, fruit drinks, tropical drinks, wine coolers, roast pork, veggie kabobs, rice and salad.

An important factor in making your luau party planning a success is by having the right entertainment. There are many ways to make this work. If you have the funds, hire a hula dancer for the evening. A Hawaiian band would also be a great choice. If you can't find one in your area you could always hire a DJ. There are also many other things you can do to bring the Big Island home. There are outdoor games you could play. A favorite would be crab football. The rules are similar to soccer except you use a large inflatable ball and everyone walks or tries to run like crabs. This is done by placing your hands down in front of you and scurrying around. It is fun to play and even more fun to watch. Another cool thing you can do is add body art. The kids will absolutely love the idea of having their faces painted and maybe some of the adults will too once they've had a few drinks.

Luau's are definitely a great time. You can expect a lot of playful fun and laughter. When the time comes and the guests arrive at the door give them the added surprise by wearing a grass skirt and a ring of flowers or lei around your neck. The cameras will surely snap. Then take it a step further and place a lei around their neck. It'll be your turn to take pictures and it'll be the beginning of a party long to be remembered.

Theme Party Planning-What is Right for You

There are so many different types of theme parties to choose from, it may become overwhelming if you don't know what you would like to do. Fortunately for most people, when the urge for a theme party presents itself the decision has already been made for you. Theme party planning is a lesson in patience. The more you have the better prepared you will become time for the actual party.

The number one time of year to have a theme party that includes dressing up is Halloween. Halloween in itself is not an actual theme party, because the guests will arrive in many different types of costumes. For it to be an actual theme it must be based on a specific idea or subject matter. For instance, pool parties are considered theme parties because everyone invited usually comes prepared to go swimming. Therefore by bringing bathing suits with the idea of entering the pool acts as a theme. If this year you would like to make your Halloween party a theme party have everyone invited stick to a particular form of dress based on your favorite monster movie or perhaps a cartoon. With only these two ideas the possibilities are endless. Think about it.


Theme party planning can be a challenge compared to many other types of party preparations. If your theme is not attractive to people on your guest list they may decide not to come. So when sending out your invitations, it is always a good idea to ask for confirmation a few weeks in advance. Some people may change their minds at the last minute and decide to make the trip, so by using a good party planners technique you should have enough food and beverages to cover the unexpected guests by adding 15% to the number you expect. The difficulties in planning also can be found in decorating and in the menu.

When coming up with a menu for your theme, try and have it relate to the actual layout. What I mean is if you are planning a star trek theme you may want to create recipes based on Klingon food. This could include gladst ousus bal or broiled karada legs. Hmm, sounds delicious doesn't it? You could easily find the actual recipes by surfing online or maybe you're from Klingon and it's an old family recipe. The point I'm making here is the food should play a role. To create a great theme party you must take your planning a step further than you normally would and have the patience to see it through.

Decorations can be purchased just about anywhere and require the same attention to detail. Deciding on a particular color for your theme works well, unless it's a masquerade party your planning, requiring flamboyant costumes and bright colors.

To know what is the right choice of theme party for you, requires dipping into your imagination and pulling out what you know and love. If you have children and want the party to include more than just the adults pick one of their favorite cartoons for your theme. The children would have a blast and the pictures would be forever precious. But if the party is strictly adults, plan on something that perks your imagination. It makes it much easier to create something that you love than not. Plan your theme with the patience of an artist who makes the painting come alive and do the same, creating a vision from out of this world.

Surprise Party Planning-Don't Tell it's a Secret

Suddenly the cat is out of the bag, the surprise is no more and your left shaking your head. The question keeps arising, "Who told?" The answer to that question is simple. It doesn't matter at this point, for your preparations for a surprise went for naught. However, everything else is still in place, so don't let yourself get down, surprise yourself and have a great time anyway.

Countless times people have gone out of their way to throw that special someone a surprise party and have it blown by a slight slip of the tongue. This is why whenever you decide on a surprise, your surprise party planningshould hold a backup plan. Let's say the party was to be held at a restaurant and the guest of honor knew days in advance of what was in store, but what he didn't know was that a very old friend from out of state was going to be there. Something small such as this is always a great way to ensure your surprise party still held some surprise even after it was discovered.

There are not too many parties that say, 'we care', as much as a surprise party does. It illustrates to the guest of honor that everyone, especially the host went that extra mile to make the arrangements and actually keep a secret. It is a great feeling to know people care so much and go out of there way for such an involved surprise. Most people love to be shocked in such a way, and when there is beer, wine and food they love it that much more.

As it is with most parties, the best place to start your planning is by picking the venue. It is obviously much easier to create a surprise if it's done from someplace besides home. Trying to make a success out of your surprise party planning when it is being planned for home is much more difficult. There are many things to consider when making preparations for a home based surprise. The food must be stored elsewhere, preferably at a neighbor's house. By keeping the food close by ensures it will still be hot when the serving takes place. The decorations, beverages, amongst other things can be hidden, but why take any chances in spoiling the arrangement.

After all, you must go out of your way to send out the invitations, either by phone, personal invites or by communicating directly. When planning a surprise party a direct invitation gives you the best chance of creating the air of secrecy you want all your guests to feel. This is a party where everyone is involved, even if it's only to make a stir when the guest of honor arrives on scene. So if you know of someone on your guest list who loves to chatter and can't keep a secret, pay closer attention to them. By singling them out, you can easily make them feel like an important aspect of the party's coming success.

For the most part you can go about your surprise party planning like you would any party. The venue may be different and it probably should be if you plan on succeeding with your shock and awe. The key is to keep the cat locked up. You don't want him jumping out of the bag long before the lights are switched on and everyone yells and screams out that magical word. This is an honor that will keep for the rest of his/her life. And if there is something more, like a marriage proposal or a huge bonus in pay, the surprise would be so much greater.

Cocktail Party Planning-Drinks Before Dinner

The definition of a cocktail party hasn't changed. It is still considered an early evening or late afternoon party where drinks are served in a socially active atmosphere. The picture is clear. There are no real hurdles to cross, making it fairly simple to prepare for. So take the bull by the horns and make your cocktail party planning a success.

A good cocktail party can be a lot of fun. The guests are bursting with energy, crackling with conversation and slowly sipping their drinks. The scene is all so familiar. The night is young, the appetizers are delicious and so is the taste of the alcohol. Everyone is either laughing or deep in conversation, whilst the host is preparing another drink. The crowd shifts towards the deck, where a group is bursting with laughter from some old joke. These are good times that create fond memories. Whether it be between family and friends or the more common cocktail party for business or corporate gatherings. It matters little, because the actual cocktail party planning is the same. It is fairly simple and easy to prepare for.

There are a few decisions to be made pertaining to the type of cocktail party you would like to have. It normally depends on who you plan on inviting. Such as, if it were to be mainly business associates you may want to have everyone arrive in formal attire. If it were going to be family, the decision on how to dress is best left up to them, unless you had other plans where the party itself was a prelude to a long night out on the town. Whatever your choice of dress, the rest is your basic pattern of cocktail party planning.

The best place to start is with your guest list. From there, send out your invitations. Once you have a rounded number of approximate guests, you can figure on the amount of food and drink. Of course, it is always best to have more instead of less, so when doing your shopping make sure you spend more than what is needed, while not breaking your planned budget. Also while you are out shopping, you may want to purchase some flowers to match the table cloth and add some other decorations, if you are so inclined. Flowers are always a nice touch to any table and I highly recommend adding them.

Now that you have the desired ingredients or readymade appetizers to go along with the wine, champagne, booze and/or beer you may begin getting the living room ready for some heavy foot traffic. If not the living room, then maybe the deck or the pool house would be ideal. Wherever you choose be sure you are able to provide ample seating for all the guests, along with glassware. Since you will be serving a large amount of drinks you may want to hire a bartender for the evening. It isn't good practice at a cocktail party to have everyone pour their own drinks, so the job would ultimately fall on the host. If you would rather spend the night laughing and giggling, mingling and bouncing from one conversation to the next it would be a headache saved and a good time made by hiring out. You could easily find someone to work behind the bar for a fair amount or you may get lucky and have one of your friends opt-in for the job. Although this would be my preference it is not to say you would not enjoy serving drinks. The bartender is surely very popular at all occasions and gets plenty of attention, but as host more than just drinks must be served.

The appetizers are an important part of any cocktail party. So make sure you get it right by having enough to last. If dinner is not in the plans for the evening, expect more to be eaten and faster. If dinner is planned, then figure on just the opposite.

Cocktail parties are great social events. If you are making plans, don't plan on having fun. It just happens!